Charles R. (Chuck) Kraus, Esq.

Mr. Kraus is a 20+ year US and Canadian corporate lawyer and business executive that strives to always deliver actionable legal advice from a business perspective.  Chuck has been General Counsel of 3 different dual-listed public companies in the energy and technology/construction industries that faced incredible opportunities and challenges. Working with the CEO and other senior executives, Mr. Kraus sought to always simultaneously be a partner to the board of directors, the CEO and business leaders, and ultimately, a guardian of the business.  

Mr. Kraus led major contract negotiations, partnered with his CFOs to secure multi-million-dollar debt and equity financings, interacted with securities regulators and stock exchanges, and won multimillion dollar litigation as plaintiff and defendant. Mr. Kraus has guided companies through the entire life-cycle, from startup to growth, and through highly confidential leadership changes, tough restructuring transactions, proxy fights and ownership changes.

Before these GC roles, Mr. Kraus was in private practice for over 10 years with Stikeman Elliott LLP in Calgary, Alberta, and with Rider Bennett LLP in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Kraus specialized in cross border M&A, joint ventures, public and private capital markets, and corporate governance. Mr. Kraus has particular expertise in cross-border and domestic M&A transactions, and guiding foreign private issuers accessing the US capital markets through private placements and publicly using the Multijurisdictional Disclosure System (MJDS). 

Mr. Kraus represented a major Canadian pipeline company in the creation of a joint venture for the operation of a major oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas (you know the one), and represented international buyers and sellers in complex M&A transactions for the acquisition of multiple oil and gas businesses and even a salt mine that sits under the City of Detroit. 

Mr. Kraus has served on a number of non-profit and private company boards of directors, and led complicated leadership changes, strategic plan development, and multi-million-dollar capital raising efforts. 

Mr. Kraus and his family have a passion for competitive water skiing, and continue to represent Canada at competitions all around the world.